FOR TNT, winning isn’t everything. Or is it?
This seems to be the case after the Tropang Giga opted to part ways with prolific import Jalen Hudson, who led the charges of coach Jojo Lastimosa to a 5-1 start, counting a 131-109 dumping of Terrafirma four days ago.
In Hudson’s place, TNT tapped Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, 28, a 6-foot-6 first round pick (23rd overall) by the Brooklyn Nets in 2015 who had brief stints with the Toronto Raptors and Portland Trailblazers.
Whether TNT’s gambit will pay off will be known when it battles struggling Blackwater today in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The match is set at 3 p.m., with the Tropnag Giga seeking to extend their winning run to four in the season-ending tourney.
San Miguel Beer tries to get back on track when it takes on winless NorthPort at 5:45.
TNT reportedly decided to tap Hollis-Jefferson believing the 220-pound forward can provide more inside threat than Hudson, who averaged 33.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists in six games.
Aside from Hollis-Jefferson, the likes of Mikey Williams, Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, and Kelly Williams will be counted upon by the Tropang Giga in their bid to hike their 5-1 mark.
Bossing tactician Ariel Vanguardia is hoping for better decision-making from reinforcement Troy Williams.
“Gustong mag-take charge pero mali naman kung minsan,” Vanguardia said after his wards absorbed a 117-122 loss to Rain or Shine last Sunday that dropped them to 1-5. “May spurts na effective pero mga pang-kick out kailangan ma-recognize niya kasi ginawa ng Rain or Shine dino-double- or triple-team na siya. Hindi niya nakita iyong mga dapat kick-out na lang niya.
“Ipinakita namin sa video mga ginawa niya and fast learner naman siya. We also told him that this is a very tough stretch so kailangan may teamwork. Ikinatalo namin masyado kaming maraming ginive-up na free throws kaya dapat i-recognize namin iyong playing hard without fouling,” he added.
Blackwater will rely on Williams, Baser Amer, JVee Casio, Rey Suerte, Joshua Torralba, and Ato Ular.
“We have to bounce back, iyan ang pinaka-importante. We’re still tied for No. 1. We have to go up again,” strategist Jorge Gallent said after the Beermen dropped a sorry 103-107 defeat to Converge last Saturday.
“We committed a lot of fouls and gave up 21 free throws in the fourth quarter, so we have to learn from that and defend better.”
Import Cameron Clark, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Simon Enciso, and Mo Tautuaa will carry the fight for SMB in its attempt to hike its 5-1 card.
With a 0-5 slate that included a 100-115 drubbing at the hands of defending champion Ginebra five day ago, the Batang Pier will lean on reinforcement Kevin Murphy, Robert Bolick, Joshua Munzon, and Arvin Tolentino.
